Boom Beam Landing Light

1.30.2013

UVU’s school of aviation sciences is reaching new heights with brighter lights. The Boom Beam landing lightsystem from LoPresti Speed Merchants is UVU’s latest addition to a proactive program with unparalleled safety and performance.

One of the biggest problems with conventional incandescent and halogen landing lights
is that normal vibration from our piston engines tends to quickly break their filaments,
resulting in a burned-out bulb. Without a warranty, conventional replacement bulbs
may last 50 hours or 10 minutes creating an environment of excessive cost, maintenance,
and fewer flight opportunities for students.

LoPresti’s new High Intensity Discharge Xenon system is nearly six times brighter
than a conventional landing light and is accompanied with a five-year/5000 hour warranty
on all components. (AOPA Pilot, February 2001)

The reflector is similar in size as a conventional bulb, so no airframe modifications
are required on our fleet of Diamond DA20s and DA40s. Inside the reflector is a glass
tube filled with mercury and xenon gases. A pair of electrodes in the tube then applies
voltage to the gases, causing them to glow brightly. The light is whiter than incandescent
lights and even looks rather blue—like the headlights on new high-end automobiles
harnessing the same technology.

Aircraft landing lights generally don’t work well to begin with and often burn out
when you need them most however, the addition of LoPresti’s Boom Beam, HID (high intensity discharge) lighting to UVU’s fleet is a compelling example of
our commitment to safety and excellence. Pilots can now see and be seen from farther
distances, safely taxi to and from the runway, and fly with confidence knowing their
visibility is dramatically improved in both day and night flights.